His voice trembled slightly.
The look of anticipation and caution on the old duke's face filled Liang Wentao with mixed emotions.
"Daoist Qingzhou is reluctant to step into the mortal world easily."
The old duke put down the long spear in his hand and slumped onto a stone pier.
"It's not that he's reluctant to step into the mortal world. He just doesn't want to have anything to do with the Duke's Mansion or me, a failed father."
Liang Wentao remained silent.
The old duke laughed self - deprecatingly. "When he was eighteen, he shone brightly during the spring hunting and was praised by the emperor, making Liang Yuchuan look like a useless person. When it came to the autumn hunting, I quietly told him that since he had already received the emperor's commendation, he should give the first prize to his elder brother this time. His elder brother also needed to show his face in front of the emperor. But he just wouldn't listen. Instead, he deliberately snatched the prey from Liang Yuchuan. He won a complete victory while Liang Yuchuan returned empty - handed. I got angry and whipped him in public. At that time, many children of the Liang family of his age blamed him for being unyielding, too showy, and too eager for success. They even isolated him. I remember that only you stepped forward to comfort him."
Liang Wentao still remembered this incident.
That young man, who should have been high - spirited and deserved his father's praise, left with his body full of whip marks, amidst the blame and contempt of everyone, but with unyielding pride.
He could see how sad and desolate that back was.
The old duke's lips trembled as he smiled bitterly to himself. "He has always been a good boy who knows how to repay kindness, but he also holds grudges. The pain left by my whip will stay with him for a lifetime."
Liang Wentao wanted to say that in fact, Liang Yuzhou had already let it go.
Song Wanchu was his redemption.
After getting Wanchu's forgiveness, he didn't care so much about some things.
There were more important relationships in his life that awaited his efforts.
But the old duke hadn't moved on.
This sense of guilt would probably accompany him for a lifetime.
But these words shouldn't be said by him.
The old duke was quietly sad for a while. When he looked up again, his expression had returned to calm.
"Among the Liang family, you are the most outstanding. In the clan school, you studied the best. At that time, I said that this child would achieve great things in the future, and now it's really true.
You're the first person in the Great Zhou Dynasty to become a chief councilor of the imperial secretariat at the first - rank of the civil service, a close official to the emperor, without relying on family shelter or ancestral merits, but solely on your own talent and courage."
The old duke was gratified.
Although his most outstanding son had become a Taoist priest, with Liang Wentao, the glory of the Liang family could still be continued.
Liang Wentao bowed modestly. "The crown prince thinks highly of your nephew. It was only after the emperor consulted the crown prince's opinion that he promoted your nephew. The crown prince has always intended to carry out reforms. Although the noble families have produced many talents, they occupy too many official positions. The crown prince wants to give more opportunities to the children from poor families."
The old duke nodded thoughtfully. "I suppose the emperor's trust in Shi Luohan is for the same reason."
Shi Luohan was a genuine child from a poor family.
But he was brave in battle and proficient in military strategy. He had won seven consecutive battles in the northern border and had become a terrifying war god in the eyes of the barbarians.
Liang Wentao frowned and thought. After talking so much, the old duke probably understood his intention for coming.
"The crown prince believes that new blood should be injected into the team of civil officials, and the military generals who hold too much military power should also be gradually reformed."
The old duke laughed. "I've played the doctrine of the mean in the court for a lifetime and have heard all kinds of words. Just say what you want to say directly. There's no need to beat around the bush. Can't we, uncle and nephew, be honest with each other?"
Liang Wentao thought he was already smooth and cautious enough, but in front of this old ginger, he was still too inexperienced.
Since that was the case, there was no need for him to play riddles.
"The Gao family has 50,000 troops and is reluctant to hand over their military power. Although the second prince has been under house arrest, these 50,000 troops were his confidence to rebel. General Shi is too far away to provide immediate help. In case these 50,000 troops start a rebellion, the only one who can compete with the Gao family is your 200,000 - strong army."
Not all of these 200,000 troops were stationed in the camp outside the city.
Shi Luohan had taken away a part of them.
And some were also stationed in important border towns.
The number of troops that could be mobilized in the capital was about 80,000.
In terms of quantity, it was enough to crush the Gao family.
In terms of strength, the old duke's army was invincible.
"The Duke's Mansion has an ancestral instruction not to participate in any court struggles and to be loyal only to the emperor."
"Liang Yuzhou and the crown prince are like brothers. He will surely fight to the death for the crown prince."
The old duke's eyelids twitched violently.
"After the crown prince ascends the throne, the army will surely be reformed. The era when the noble families controlled the military power will be over. You don't have to worry about overshadowing the emperor with your merits. The crown prince will make you a meritorious official while allowing you to withdraw gracefully. There will never be any suspicion or defense between the monarch and his subject."
The old duke remained silent, but his hands tightened.
"You know that Liang Yuzhou has a sharp eye and is very good at judging people. The crown prince will surely be a wise emperor."
"Yes, he's very good at judging people." The old duke smiled faintly. "What he said about me, that I care too much about dignity and glory and have a superficial understanding of love, is all true."
He was inferior to his son.
But he had lost his best son.
...
After leaving the Duke's Mansion, Liang Wentao first sent Jiang Qianyu and Rui'er home.
Then he rushed non - stop to Yunshen Alley.
The crown prince, the crown princess, Liang Yuzhou, and Song Wanchu were all there.
They were waiting for his news.
Four pairs of eyes stared at him simultaneously.
"I'm only 50% sure."
The crown prince was anxious inside, but as the backbone, he had to stay calm.
"I know you've done your best."
Liang Wentao looked at Liang Yuzhou, who was expressionless. "Second brother, the old duke actually wants to see you very much."
"If he wants to see me, he will surely see me on the day when the Gao family rebels and there's a bloody battle in the palace."
Liang Wentao's eyebrows twitched. He seemed to understand something.
The crown prince smiled faintly. "With these words from Daoist Qingzhou, I can rest easy."
Song Wanchu invited everyone to have dinner.
At the dinner table, a plate of stir - fried shrimp was served.
The crown prince picked up some shrimp for Cheng Mianmian. "This is your favorite. Try it."
At the smell of the shrimp, Cheng Mianmian's stomach churned.
She suddenly covered her mouth and retched.
The crown prince dropped his chopsticks and gently stroked her back to help her breathe. "What's wrong?"
Song Wanchu calmly said, "Mianmian, there's a kind of incense in my room that can relieve nausea. Come with me."
The crown prince was worried and wanted to go with them.
Liang Yuzhou tugged at his sleeve. "Do you know more about women than Wanchu?"
The three men ate the food on the table without much appetite.
In the boudoir, Song Wanchu held Cheng Mianmian's hand. "Has a royal physician taken your pulse?"
Cheng Mianmian didn't take it too seriously. "I've just been a bit upset and anxious recently, so I've lost my appetite. It's not a big deal."
"Then have you been irritable, tired, and sleepy, and found everything tasteless?"
"You mean..."
"How many days is your period late?"
Cheng Mianmian woke up as if from a dream. There had been so many important things recently that she had forgotten that her period was more than ten days late.
"Mianmian, you're pregnant."
(Guys, I've returned to my hometown. I'm a bit pressed for time, so I'll just update one chapter first. I'll update another chapter before twelve noon.)